To make the online shopping experience the best possible, many businesses will attempt to personalise their services, which is usually done by creating a customer database, and then filling it with as much information about the customers as possible. These databases may have information such as actual sales from the site, preferences gained from surverys, personal information gained from competitions and possibly about the links clicked on and the time spent on the pages.
If the business uses this information correctly, then it is able to target customers as individuals, for their specific needs, not just general shoppers. By using this information they can also find out different information, such as what pages are successful, gaining the most sales, find pages in the site where customers drop out, predict future sales based on their customer-base prefers and tailors its stockholding to predit sales and thus reduce wastage. Reducing wastage is more specific to food retailers rather than clothing, as if too much stock is ordered and does not sell, this can result in stock being thrown away. By knowing what stock is selling the most, or worst, or when there is offers on, the retailers can look at potential trends and know how much stock to order.
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
2.3 Techniques for Engaging and Enticing Customers
Websites use many techniques to try and draw new customers to their site every day. These techniques are used to try and get new and old customers to carry on shopping with their company; being used in the physical stores, mail order catalouges and advertising campaigns. Now due to the internet, and the information the websites have from their customers means that more opportunities have opened up to make web businesses more successful when dealing with customers.
One technique which is very popular with online businesses is to put on sales or special offers. Many high street stores work better with sales as they attract customers which are 'just passing' or window shopping, which is very unlikely on a website. The successful online sales are usually accompanied by a email campaign, however this can sometimes end up in the consumers 'junk' email, and can be blocked. The emails that tend to be looked at by customers are the ones that are more specific to the customer, and target individuals on their buying preferences. These preferences are usually through the websites own database on previous sales, or registered users or subscriber databases.
A different technique, which is used is to send out newsletters to subscribers, which lists the latest offers and products, giving them extra information that might be of interest to the customers. This, over time, will hopefully build a loyal customer base, rather than having a trickle of customers. To the business, this technique is a cheap and effective way of getting their information to lots of potential customers at one time, while drawing in potential customers. Most of these newsletters need registration or subscriptions, which although the customer does not encure any cost, it requires them to first visit the website. This can be a easy way for businesses to gain information, as sometimes it will only be a name and email address.
Surverys and competitions are a similar technique to newsletters, offering fresh, interactive content on the site, and are another way to gain personal information. They can sometimes be more appealing to the consumer, as they feel they are going to gain something for entering, such as vouchers.
Some of the more powerful techniques for engaging customers and gaining their attention is to offer interactive multimedia experiences. These will usually involve a Java module, or a Flash or Shockwave plug in. Real estate and holiday village websites usually offer this service, showing videos of the homes, and offer online mortgage calculators. Clothing and footwear websites such as Nike offer the chance to customise certain shoes, adding different colours, design, and having this delivered. Car companies such as Porsche and Audi allow their customers to design their car online, to get an idea of what it will look like, and how much that will cost. These can be above and beyond what the customer expects on such websites, and can extend more than what a face-to-face sales situation.
One technique which is very popular with online businesses is to put on sales or special offers. Many high street stores work better with sales as they attract customers which are 'just passing' or window shopping, which is very unlikely on a website. The successful online sales are usually accompanied by a email campaign, however this can sometimes end up in the consumers 'junk' email, and can be blocked. The emails that tend to be looked at by customers are the ones that are more specific to the customer, and target individuals on their buying preferences. These preferences are usually through the websites own database on previous sales, or registered users or subscriber databases.
A different technique, which is used is to send out newsletters to subscribers, which lists the latest offers and products, giving them extra information that might be of interest to the customers. This, over time, will hopefully build a loyal customer base, rather than having a trickle of customers. To the business, this technique is a cheap and effective way of getting their information to lots of potential customers at one time, while drawing in potential customers. Most of these newsletters need registration or subscriptions, which although the customer does not encure any cost, it requires them to first visit the website. This can be a easy way for businesses to gain information, as sometimes it will only be a name and email address.
Surverys and competitions are a similar technique to newsletters, offering fresh, interactive content on the site, and are another way to gain personal information. They can sometimes be more appealing to the consumer, as they feel they are going to gain something for entering, such as vouchers.
Some of the more powerful techniques for engaging customers and gaining their attention is to offer interactive multimedia experiences. These will usually involve a Java module, or a Flash or Shockwave plug in. Real estate and holiday village websites usually offer this service, showing videos of the homes, and offer online mortgage calculators. Clothing and footwear websites such as Nike offer the chance to customise certain shoes, adding different colours, design, and having this delivered. Car companies such as Porsche and Audi allow their customers to design their car online, to get an idea of what it will look like, and how much that will cost. These can be above and beyond what the customer expects on such websites, and can extend more than what a face-to-face sales situation.
Evaluation of my E-book
I found making an E-book something new and difficult, which brought with it challenges. These challenges included
Monday, 13 May 2013
Impact of the Digital Divide
Bridging the gap of the digital divide can have an impact on many peoples lives, mostly positively. It can help people overcome barriers, while also being cost-effective. Many causes of the divide are socio-economic, and has many related socio-economic consequences. The unemployed are able to search and apply for jobs online, being much more effective than physically going around towns/cities looking for work, which is something that the JobCentre are implementing more often. ICT can also improve their job prospects, as they may be able to participate in online courses, such as the open university, which widens their skills and gives them more opportunities in the future. However, they are limited as they are more likely to rely on free access, such as libraries and free courses as they do not have the same resources available as many middle class individuals. Many disadvantaged people also lack the availability and training of using ICT, such as the elderly and disabled. A person who has limited access in every day life could benefit from using computers and being trained on how to use them productively. For example someone who is in a wheelchair could benefit from being able to do their shopping and banking online, and elderly individuals could benefit from having training to understand ICT more in depth. The funding which is put into the ICT access areas are usually placed in town centres/cities, which although convenient for many people which travel to and from every day can be very easy, for some it can be nearly impossible. This means that for businesses and people who live in remote areas, they need high-speed telecommunications, for them to be able to function just as well while being away from the main centre, where things such as local courses and libraries are.
All these things can have a large impact on education and life/career chances. Due to now living in a 'digital society', those who are not intergrated into technology at school, are then at a disadvantage when they go into wider society. However, school is not the only institution which influences how knowledgable individuals are on technology, as its also home life, which is determined with the social ladder of their family; wether you are able to afford a computer and up-to date technology. This is why many argue that the introduction and development of more technology into schools widens the gap for many children.
Many jobs and businesses have dissapeared due to the introduction of technology, mainly the internet, with this increasing as there are more advances. There are major differences within rural villages, with the number of post offices, and banking services decreasing within the last 10 years. Physical jobs have also decreased, preferring to use technology, such as libraries, tax offices and banks. This could not only increase any existing social disadvantages for specific groups
All these things can have a large impact on education and life/career chances. Due to now living in a 'digital society', those who are not intergrated into technology at school, are then at a disadvantage when they go into wider society. However, school is not the only institution which influences how knowledgable individuals are on technology, as its also home life, which is determined with the social ladder of their family; wether you are able to afford a computer and up-to date technology. This is why many argue that the introduction and development of more technology into schools widens the gap for many children.
Many jobs and businesses have dissapeared due to the introduction of technology, mainly the internet, with this increasing as there are more advances. There are major differences within rural villages, with the number of post offices, and banking services decreasing within the last 10 years. Physical jobs have also decreased, preferring to use technology, such as libraries, tax offices and banks. This could not only increase any existing social disadvantages for specific groups
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Causes of the Divide
There have been many explanations put forward to show the causes of the divide, both divides within the developed world on a national level, and divides within the less developed countries, on a global level . Socio-economic factors play a big part in the divide, for example people on low incomes/jobless are less likely to have all the equipment, as ICT is expensice and rental charges and fees for the connections can be costly. Also disadvantaged may be the unskilled, disabled, elderly and the young.
The service providers are national companies, therefore based on profit, and are more likely to target high income households, where they have the money to buy more content and services. This also relates to the area you live in, as the service providers like to build the infastructure needed to run their services in built up, urban areas, where the population is higher. This leaves people in rural areas more disadvantaged, as they may have no connection to any ICT.
Another factor which contributes to causes of the divide are the amount of ICT skills someone has, low skills means that individuals are restricted to the amount they can access/achieve, which may be useful to them. Many who have had no training, or not grown up with technology being a centre of their learning/communication may have problems adapting, for example the elderly. These people may be highly trained in education and good basic skills may feel unskilled and therefore refuse to use it. Basic knowledge and skills may also influence wether someone uses ICT; a lack of basic numeracy and literacy skills may lead to a lack of confidence, therefore unwilling to try anything new, and some groups may not want to expose any gaps they may have, confidence or knowledge, in front of a mixed audience.
There may be general problems which are not researched as in depth as other explanations. For example in community ICT areas there may be barriers, such as no transport, no adequate creche facilities for lone parents, and may not be accessible for those with disabilities.
Many argue that within the developed world there is not much of a divide, and its actually more down to the individual choosing to have no access. There are now many locations where programmes have been put in place for access to ICT, for little or no cost, but some choose not to take advantage of this, and therefore disadvantage themselves voluntarily. This however, could link to the lack of relevence that technology has for some people, even in todays society, such as the elderly. It may be seen as irrelevent for many reasons; if the words used are very complicated, then this will disadvantage the less literate, if content is mainly aimed at one area of society, such as white middle class, then large groups will disengage. Many areas of technology have advanced dramatically over the last 10 years, bringing with it a large range of cultural and language diversity,such as TV, however this is not so much with the computing and internet market. If the content is irrelevent to the individual, this can be seen as a contributing factor to the digital divide.
Funding can be an issue with giving all areas access to ICT, government (local & national), charities, local businesses and other organisations all fund projects directly and indirectly. The funding can often be hard to obtain and difficult to secure, and often has a time limit, which can mean that true value for money is not always obtained even where the projects precise aims are met. Particularly in education the digital divide has tried to be reduced, with a variety of different projects and millions of pounds being spent in the UK alone. Much of this money has been put into improving the systems and software in schools, thought to have been put in place to enhance learning, although many argue this is not the case and does not make up for the amount of money spent, relying more on how the teacher intergrates ICT into lessons, rather than the technology alone.
This shows us that is it not just one factor which contributes to being on one side of the divide, it is multiple factors, which are trying to be reduced by introducing new initiatives all the time.
The service providers are national companies, therefore based on profit, and are more likely to target high income households, where they have the money to buy more content and services. This also relates to the area you live in, as the service providers like to build the infastructure needed to run their services in built up, urban areas, where the population is higher. This leaves people in rural areas more disadvantaged, as they may have no connection to any ICT.
Another factor which contributes to causes of the divide are the amount of ICT skills someone has, low skills means that individuals are restricted to the amount they can access/achieve, which may be useful to them. Many who have had no training, or not grown up with technology being a centre of their learning/communication may have problems adapting, for example the elderly. These people may be highly trained in education and good basic skills may feel unskilled and therefore refuse to use it. Basic knowledge and skills may also influence wether someone uses ICT; a lack of basic numeracy and literacy skills may lead to a lack of confidence, therefore unwilling to try anything new, and some groups may not want to expose any gaps they may have, confidence or knowledge, in front of a mixed audience.
There may be general problems which are not researched as in depth as other explanations. For example in community ICT areas there may be barriers, such as no transport, no adequate creche facilities for lone parents, and may not be accessible for those with disabilities.
Many argue that within the developed world there is not much of a divide, and its actually more down to the individual choosing to have no access. There are now many locations where programmes have been put in place for access to ICT, for little or no cost, but some choose not to take advantage of this, and therefore disadvantage themselves voluntarily. This however, could link to the lack of relevence that technology has for some people, even in todays society, such as the elderly. It may be seen as irrelevent for many reasons; if the words used are very complicated, then this will disadvantage the less literate, if content is mainly aimed at one area of society, such as white middle class, then large groups will disengage. Many areas of technology have advanced dramatically over the last 10 years, bringing with it a large range of cultural and language diversity,such as TV, however this is not so much with the computing and internet market. If the content is irrelevent to the individual, this can be seen as a contributing factor to the digital divide.
Funding can be an issue with giving all areas access to ICT, government (local & national), charities, local businesses and other organisations all fund projects directly and indirectly. The funding can often be hard to obtain and difficult to secure, and often has a time limit, which can mean that true value for money is not always obtained even where the projects precise aims are met. Particularly in education the digital divide has tried to be reduced, with a variety of different projects and millions of pounds being spent in the UK alone. Much of this money has been put into improving the systems and software in schools, thought to have been put in place to enhance learning, although many argue this is not the case and does not make up for the amount of money spent, relying more on how the teacher intergrates ICT into lessons, rather than the technology alone.
This shows us that is it not just one factor which contributes to being on one side of the divide, it is multiple factors, which are trying to be reduced by introducing new initiatives all the time.
What is the Digital Divide?
ICT has changed the way that many of us live, bringing about educational, social, cultural, and economic benefits to those with access. However those who do not have this access, or are limited, it has brought about no change, or benefit, known as the digital divide. Usually, the divide is discussed with the issue that many countries have more access than other countries, who have very limited resources. The digital divide is not just about wether the area is connected to the Internet, but the access to ICT, including factors such as the quality of connection and the related services.
As you can see from the picture, there are still many places that are significantly less connected than others, for example Myanmar is only at 0.2% online. Although there are countries that are extremely advanced and forward, there are still those that are behind, which is why there needs to constantly be new initiatives being introduced, and reviews if these are working/not working.
There has been many initatives put forward to try and stop the digital divide becoming even more of an issue, equiping different areas they need to use ICT and improve their lifestyle.
http://www.internetworldstats.com/links10.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8568681.stm
There has been many initatives put forward to try and stop the digital divide becoming even more of an issue, equiping different areas they need to use ICT and improve their lifestyle.
http://www.internetworldstats.com/links10.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8568681.stm
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Information in Modern Organisations - Unit 2
Organisations are able to be categorised in a number of ways, with three main types of organisation can be readily identified; commerical organisations, public organisations and non profit or charitable organisations.
Commercial organisations are what known typically as businesses. They trade in a highly competitive market, with their aim being to expand and grow the business with profit. The smallest of these businesses are single-person, sole traders, who usually own a small, local business such as window cleaners. The bigger end are giant multi national companies such as Coca-Cola. All these businesses thrive through selling products at a profit, allowing them to expand.
Public organisations are those that are funded mainly through taxation, and are controlled directly or indirectly by the government. These include; direct government bodies such as the civil service, local governement such as schools, colleges and health service. These organisations are based on public service, not profit. Although these organisations are still given budgets, they are not expected to make a profit.
During the recession, companies are having to put forward a clear strategy involving ICT, with those that have been able to do this thriving, and those who didnt failing, such as Blockbuster and HMV.
Commercial organisations are what known typically as businesses. They trade in a highly competitive market, with their aim being to expand and grow the business with profit. The smallest of these businesses are single-person, sole traders, who usually own a small, local business such as window cleaners. The bigger end are giant multi national companies such as Coca-Cola. All these businesses thrive through selling products at a profit, allowing them to expand.
Public organisations are those that are funded mainly through taxation, and are controlled directly or indirectly by the government. These include; direct government bodies such as the civil service, local governement such as schools, colleges and health service. These organisations are based on public service, not profit. Although these organisations are still given budgets, they are not expected to make a profit.
During the recession, companies are having to put forward a clear strategy involving ICT, with those that have been able to do this thriving, and those who didnt failing, such as Blockbuster and HMV.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)